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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Should I be a monk? |
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| Anonymous |
| 03/30/04 at 15:11:47 |
| A Monk Hello, as you probably have no idea who I am, my name is Medo. I just have a feeling I should be a Monk. The reason for this feeling is because I hardly ever talk to anyone and I learn independently. I am in Grade 11 and that in any class the only words I would say are, “Hi or Bye.” Honestly, in a day I think I have said in school about 20 –30 words. I sit up front, everyone knows me, yet I don’t talk. It seems I just don’t like talking, or no one talks to me. It doesn’t bother me at all. I could live my life without a voice if I wanted to. This is why I think I’m going to turn into a Islamic Monk. I mean, to learn independently and just read Koran and pray everyday makes me feel happy. Even my parents and some of my teachers ask, “Why don’t you talk?” I never respond, and if I did it would be, “I don’t like talking?” because I don’t know how to reply to that question. This seems a bit odd to you but I like being alone. If the world had no one around, and it was myself, I would be more than happy. You think this is very odd don’t you? Even in relationships, I don’t feel the need for another person in my life. I’ve had some before (when I was young and not thinking right) but they seem useless to me. I know completing half of my iman is based on my marriage. Honestly, the truth…. I don’t really care. I’d rather be alone and just praying all day. In a day I have done 200 prayers, optionally. I read the Koran all night until 5 a.m. and I barely feel like resting. (Only two hours of sleep.) Is something wrong with me? (lol). As Monks like nature, I love nature. I grew apple trees and pair trees in the backyard of my house. I love planting and nature. However, in school, I am doing very well. I love biology and other subjects, but I just don’t seem to belong there in school. No one helps me on my study, or anything, I don’t even ask questions and I understand everything fully. This is way odd for a 17 year old don’t ya think? To read and pray everyday and learn about genetic inheritance and etc. (biology) is my favourite thing. When I am asked to go play soccer I usually say, “Ok.” But while we play I just look around trees and my mouth is shut. When they say, “Medo!!!” I just look to them and wave back at them. (lol.) I spend some time working out too. That way I am in shape. Not diabetic. So overall my question is, “Should I be a Monk?” or “Is there something wrong with me?” P.S. I like being alone…… all alone that is. And if there was someone around me, I just don’t talk, but I would say “Salam” or “Asalamu Alaikum Warahamatulahi Wabarakatu” |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| theOriginal |
| 03/30/04 at 15:43:59 |
| [slm] Dear Medo, I don't think there is anything wrong with enjoying silence and preferring to be alone. In fact, it is during these times that you have the opportunity to think without the bias of having an opinion that you must voice. 17, mashaAllah is pretty young age to reach your level of maturity. And I pray that your affinity towards Islam only grows and gets better, inshaAllah. You must understand that Islam is not a religion that you can practice independently. It requires interaction with your family, your community, with your fellow muslims, with non-muslims. And this is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Most teenagers do feel isolated at some point or another. And that is not necessarily a negative thing. But Islam is not only about how much you can correct yourself, but also how much you can do for other people. Most people don't feel like belong in high school. I'll bet if we take a poll on this message board, most of us would say we had ROTTEN high school experiences (I, for one, most certainly did). But not belonging at school doesn't mean that you have to become a monk. In fact, someone with your maturity and intelligence should strive towards great things, inshaAllah. You should excel at school by knowing that this is a time in your life which you must conquer, but which will pass, to lead you to the next step in your life. You should strive towards religious excellence, like you are already doing (mashaAllah), but you should also seek Allah's pleasure in ensuring that you are performing the other duties that He has commanded. These include, but are not limited to, being a good son, brother, friend, confidante, etc. I don't think the concept of a "monk" really exists in Islam, and that's another thing you should consider. Best of luck. Wasalaam. |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| M.F. |
| 03/31/04 at 12:32:57 |
| Assalamu alaikum, It's great that you're not very sociable, that way you don't get into trouble. However, instead of becoming a monk and cutting yourself off from everyone, use whatever knowledge you gain from reading and from learning about genetics to good use, if you don't like to talk maybe you can write. Read a lot and try to get something out of it that can be shared. Monkhood is kind of selfish if you look at it in a certain way cause you want to cut everything out of your life and not give anything. In Islam you can be a completely devoted worshipper but worship in itself is always tied in with doing good deeds.... wallahu a'lam. |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| al-ajnabia |
| 03/31/04 at 12:55:17 |
| [slm] there is no such thing as an Islamic monk, and celebacy is not pemitted, even chaste unmaried people are not the same as celabate people. The people around you have some right to your attention and time, also there is not any point to all that learning unless it is to be applied to dealing with the people around you. I can relate to no sleep and lots of study. Lately I've been running on 2-4 hours a night and spending the rest of it processing the day and the people around me in realtion to religion. But for me I see the wisdom of encouragement to interaction even just within a family or within the limitaitons of lawful interaction. As much as I enjoy all this learning, I know it is for others wh dont have the situation to consider all these things for themselves. you dont have to learnt to chat with people, I think that can only be learned at an early age anyway, but could you practice speaking about educational or professional things with people? This takes practice, but without it we become black holes where information goes and is never seen again. Even if the people around you are hostile, and I dont know anything about your situation, they can still be useful for practicing interaction. The Prophet [saw] himself told people who pray so much to quit it and get back into the world. sometimes we have to do what we dont like to do, but the purpose of religion isnt to make us feel good, its to help us behave towards eachother as Allah wants us to, so that He wont have to ask us so many questions about our behavior towards others. And you can be sure He will want to know why you dont behave towards others at all when that is not how He asked us to behave. Please take this as it is intended, from somone who has also noticed she is someitmes happier on days when she hasnt spoken a word. |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| humble_muslim |
| 03/31/04 at 14:32:38 |
| AA Brother, be careful. Monaticism is forbidden in Islam. We must always seek the way of the Prohet(SAW). From Sahih Bukhari : Volume 7, Book 62, Number 1: Narrated Anas bin Malik: A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, "Where are we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been forgiven." Then one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever." The other said, "I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever." Allah's Apostle came to them and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers)." |
| NS |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| superFOB |
| 03/31/04 at 16:32:10 |
| [slm] Medo: I think you are confusing monasticism with something else. Monasticism usually means retreating from dunya for extended periods of time and engaging one's self in practising what taxes the mind, body, and spirit, to achieve certain spiritual goals. Islam, having moderation as one of its very basic principles, does not condone monasticism, as pointed out by the brothers and sisters. Let me first remind all of us that those who are steadfast in their deen during their youth would be under the shade of 'Arsh on the day of judgement when there would be no shade (reference?). Man, those are some impressive numbers you got there medo :) Now back to your query. To try to answer any question, as we should always, lets take the case of the righteous companions of the Prophet (SAW). We would find among them examples of virtually every peronality type imaginable. Many among them were people of zuhd, reticents, mostly keeping to themselves, had little social life. But all of them had one thread in common, when the demand of deen came, when the Hukm of Allah came, when the Prophet (SAW) ordered, everything became secondary, even their zuhd! They listened and they obeyed. Down the generations, among muslims, practice of deen branched out into people of jihad, people of knowledge, people of tassawwuf, common folks, etc. Regardless of whether that "branching out" was good or bad, we still find one thing in common among all of them, dawah towards Allah. Islam spread initially through the sheer momentum of the eeman of the companions (RA), to far east exclusively through the yemeni merchants, through central asia and India through sufia, etc. Another VERY important attribute was their steadfastness to sunnah. Rarely we'd find awliya of Allah to be unmarried, any cutting off from dunya is unheard of. All these people understood their task and carried it out to the best of their ability. In short, don't leave your naafilah and your dhikr, but don't make it a habit either. Mashallah there is so much more you can do, which you are more than capable of doing, and which you HAVE to do. Look inwards and ask yourself: what is the demand of deen at this very moment? If you don't find a satisfying answer (you probably won't) go seek someone with answers. Thats what the awliya of Allah keep themselves busy with. |
| 03/31/04 at 16:40:09 |
| superFOB |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| anon |
| 03/31/04 at 16:43:48 |
I think someone with your level of spiritual himma should definately read books by Imam al-Haddad (the 12th century mujaddid scholar from Yemen). they are translated into english by one of the most able translators Mostafa al-Badawi for example: Gifts for the seeker The Book of Assistance Key to the Garden The Lives of Man all by: Habib Ahmad al-Haddad, translated by Mostafa al-Badawi |
| Re: Should I be a monk? |
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| ibnasabil |
| 04/02/04 at 00:18:59 |
| [slm] Ma sha Allah. It's very nice of al-anon to mention Imam al-Haddad. If brother Medo goes that way, insh Allah, it may be good to be aware of the lessons that Sh. Hamza Yusuf recorded to teach some of Imam al-Haddad's books (Mercy of Allah be upon him). I listened to the tapes that teach the Lives of Man several years ago, and subhanallah, I wouldn't mind listening to those again. Alhamdolillah. bro. octagon |
| 04/02/04 at 20:53:08 |
| ibnasabil |
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